The New Adventures of Pippi Longstocking

The New Adventures of Pippi Longstocking
File:TNAOPLOriginalPosterArt.jpg Theatrical release poster
Directed by	Ken Annakin
Produced by	Gary Mehlman Walter Moshay Mishaal Kamal Adham
Screenplay by	Ken Annakin
Based on	Pippi Longstocking by Astrid Lindgren
Starring	Tami Erin Eileen Brennan Dennis Dugan Dianne Hull George DiCenzo John Schuck Dick Van Patten
Music by	Misha Segal
Cinematography	Roland Smith
Edited by	Ken Zemke
Distributed by	Columbia Pictures
Release dates	July 29, 1988 (1988-07-29) (U.S.)
Running time	100 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English
Budget	$5 million

The New Adventures of Pippi Longstocking is a 1988 American fantasy–adventure–musical film written and directed by Ken Annakin based on the books of the fictional character Pippi Longstocking, created by children's book author Astrid Lindgren. While the title suggests it is a continuation, it is in fact a remake of the original story. It was filmed in Fernandina Beach on Amelia Island and at soundstages in Jacksonville, Florida. It was released in movie theaters worldwide in 13 languages by Columbia Pictures.

Plot

After her father's ship is carried off by a sudden storm, the spunky Pippi Longstocking (Tami Erin) is stranded with her horse, Alfonso, and monkey, Mr. Nilsson, and takes up residence in the old family home: Villa Villekulla, which is thought by neighborhood children to be haunted. Soon, two children, Tommy Settigren (David Seaman, Jr.) and his sister, Annika Settigren (Cory Crow), venture into the house after seeing lights in the windows. Looking for ghosts, they meet Pippi instead. They become friends and get into various adventures together such as making pancakes, cleaning the floor with scrubbing shoes, serving ice cream to children of the local orphanage, riding a motorcycle, and dodging "splunks". Pippi must also fight off crooks who wish to demolish her house and sell the property, as well as avoid being taken to the orphanage. She agrees to run away with Tommy and Annika in a homemade autogyro to avoid this fate. They end up needing to be rescued after nearly going over a waterfall while riding barrels down a river, and Pippi eventually agrees to give the orphanage a try after Tommy and Annika's parents refuse to let them play with her anymore. She does not fit in with the other children due to her lack of discipline and education. However, after she saves the orphanage from a fire and becomes the town heroine, she is allowed to return to Villa Villekulla and befriends Tommy and Annika once more. She is reunited with her father on Christmas Day, and he offers her the chance to become a cannibal princess of the uncharted island he had washed ashore on and was crowned king. Just as they prepare to sail off, she decides to stay after seeing that everyone in the village is sad to see her go.

Cast

• Tami Erin as Pippilotta Delicatessa Windowshade "Pippi" Longstocking, the title character who arrives on land after her father is washed to sea.
• David Seaman, Jr. as Tommy Settigren, a boy next door who along with his sister Annika, becomes friends with Pippi.
• Cory Crow as Annika Settigren, Tommy's younger sister who becomes friends with Pippi.
• Eileen Brennan as Miss Bannister, the strict owner of the town orphanage.
• Dennis Dugan as Mr. Settigren, Tommy and Annika's strict, yet polite father who disapproves of Pippi at first.
• Dianne Hull as Mrs. Settigren, Tommy and Annika's mother.
• George DiCenzo as Mr. Dan Blackhart, a local businessman who originally intended to knock down Pippi's house to make more space but after Pippi moves in, attempts to lure her out using his two clumsy henchmen.
• Dick Van Patten as Greg the Glue Man, a strange man who invented special sticky glue that walk him up and down anywhere. He uses his glue to sneak into the orphanage one night where he meets Pippi.
• John Schuck as Captain Efraim Longstocking, Pippi's father who is captain of the ship "Hoptoad". He is washed to sea and floats towards an island at the start of the movie but he later returns during Christmas.
• Branscombe Richmond as Fridolf, Captain Efraim's cabin boy who teaches Pippi while she is on board.
• Fay Masterson as Head Girl, a strict older girl at the orphanage.
• Carole Kean as Miss Messerschmidt, a strict, yet caring teacher at the orphanage.
• Frank Welker and Michael Bell as Alfonso and Mr. Nilsson, Pippi's pet monkey and horse respectively.
• Clark Niederjohn as Jake, the town pilot who invents an autogyro. When Pippi runs away with Tommy and Annika, he decides to take their father up in the autogyro to search for them.

Songs

File:Fernandina Beach FL original town site02.jpg

The Villa Villekulla of the movie at the Original Town of Fernandina Historic Site, in Fernandina Beach (picture from 2010)

1. "Pippi Longstocking is Coming Into Your Town!" - Margie Nelson and the International Children's Choir
2. "We Live on the Seas" - Michael Mendelson
3. "Scrubbing Day" - Marlene Ricci
4. "Runnin' Away" - Margie Nelson
5. "Runnin' Away (Reprise)" - Tami Erin, David Seaman, Jr., and Cory Crow
6. "Sticky Situation" - Sandra Simmons
7. "Merry Christmas Tree" - Gail Lopata Lennon
8. "We Live on the Seas (Reprise)" - Tami Erin and the Hoptoad Crew
9. "Pippi Longstocking is Coming Into Your Town! (Reprise)" - Margie Nelson and the International Children's Choir

Soundtrack

Atlantic Records issued the film's motion picture soundtrack upon its release, in both LP and CD formats (LP: 91016-1, CD: 91016-2). It was also issued in Japan by Polydor Records (CD: P32P-20156). The Atlantic LP and CD had 22 tracks, with the score by Misha Segal, and all of the songs. It is out of print, and hard to find.

1. Pippi Longstocking is Coming Into Your Town
2. The Storm (Lyrics)
3. The Gulf Stream
4. Ghost of Villa Villekula
5. Pippi March
6. Scrubbing Day
7. War of the Ice Cream
8. Beautiful Day at the Villa
9. Pastorale
10. Runnin' Away
11. Runnin' Away (Reprise)
12. The Rescue (Lyrics)
13. Mama (Lyrics)
14. Sticky Situation
15. Pippi Saves the Day
16. Merry Christmas Tree
17. Father's Return
18. Kurre Kurre Islands
19. Goodbye Papa
20. We Live on the Seas
21. If You Ever Need Me
22. Pippi Longstocking is Coming Into Your Town (Reprise)

Reception

The New Adventures of Pippi Longstocking received generally negative reviews from film critics. The film has a 17% approval rating on review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes. Despite this however, it is much more popular with the general public, as 70% of the audience have given it a favorable opinion.

Home entertainment release

The film was released worldwide on DVD in 2000 and re-released as a double feature with Matilda in 2007.

References

• Hug Brings Pippi To Hollywood, Los Angeles Times, 19 July 1985.

External links

• The New Adventures of Pippi Longstocking at IMDb
• The New Adventures of Pippi Longstocking at the TCM Movie Database
• The New Adventures of Pippi Longstocking at Box Office Mojo
• Original release production notes at Sony Movie Channel.